May Notes … The merry and busy month!

A reminder to those of you, especially seniors, with outstanding debts; the deadline is Friday, May 15th.

We have a date for our Music awards party! It is Thursday, May 21st starting at 7:30 pm with all music students and their families invited to join in the festivities. The student music council decided on a dessert potluck, asking each family to bring a dessert for at least 12 people. The Music boosters are taking care of drinks, paper products and the serious certificates for all music students, listing their many accomplishments this past year. Students can come up with some fun ideas to sprinkle in, voting on the fun award categories on Friday and the awardees next week. We also look to invite the music students from Einstein to demonstrate how music fun our music “family” here at Rosemont has so they want to join. As one student said in response to the question if attending was mandatory, “Why wouldn’t you want to come??!!”

Tuesday, June 2nd is the confirmed date for the spring concert. It will also serve as one of the two required general membership booster meetings, with board elections for the 2015-16 year, adoption of the revised by-laws, and the budget presentation.

Please consider running for a music booster board position for the 2015-16 school year. The commitment is a 1 to 1 ½ hour meeting per month. The positions are: president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, three members-at-large, plus an apprentice for the food coordinator whose child will be a senior next year. Please email any questions or nominations to: rhskeepthemusicalive@gmail.com.

Tuesday, June 9th is graduation. By tradition, the music boosters are selling water at the event. Last year was very warm & we know we’ll need a large supply of water. We’re asking families to donate a case of water & bring it to the awards party for storage. That also allows us time to cool them on graduation day. Per request of the graduation committee, the music will be pre-recorded by the orchestra and symphonic band and then piped over the stadium sound system for best sound.

Students will have another in-class performance to finish the semester. As a reminder, students may play a different instrument or play in a group only once. So, if you’ve done that already, prepare a piece on your instrument. Ideally, it is a song or exercise out of your book.

We continue to hold drumming sessions each Wednesday from 3:15 to 4:45 to prepare for next fall. All interested people are still welcome. We look to have two drumlines next year, a school line that plays at rallies, games and other community events, and a competitive line that participates in the fall and winter competitions.

I am grateful for your support in the past and this year.
Mrs. Wilmer

December/Early January Band Notes

It’s ALWAYS the season for music ….

We now accept PayPal (or credit card) donations on our website! All music parents are members of the RHS Music Boosters! As you speak with family, friends and co-workers, please share our Booster Donation Letter (click on the link to open a new window with the letter in it) that explains our situation. Encourage them to consider a donation to our program! Please put your thinking cap on and help us raise funds for our program! Plus, we're always looking for parents to join in the fun of working with the students. There's nothing more satisfying than seeing how hard our students work!

The orchestra is playing our annual performance for the school on the 20th. Classes are invited each period to attend our performance of holiday-themed music that culminates in a performance with Christmas Eve Sarajevo with either guitars or our class. The morning and afternoon performances will feature different songs for students who might see the performance more than once.

Students can get credit for two practice charts during winter break. Students were issued two charts before break. Concert, Symphonic bands and orchestra number them 13A & B. The beginners’ charts are 11A and 11B. They can choose to turn in one or both depending on time available to practice. They should spend time preparing for our concert January 15th.

The Winter Concert is slated for Wednesday, January 15th at 7pm for all music groups and lasts about 90 minutes. Call time for performers is 6:30pm, which is when we also open the hall. The orchestra, Concert and Symphonic band members wear their concert attire. Make sure the dress or pants are hemmed. The Cadet (Beginning) Band wears their “Event best” semi-formal wear.

Our boosters are sponsoring an electronic “e-waste” collection on Saturday, January 11th from 8am to 1pm. Hold onto those old electronics and support the music program by bringing them to the front parking lot that day. Sorry, we cannot take appliances.

An important aspect of every student’s practice session is work in their etude book. After our winter concert each student will perform a self-selected etude, song or exercise from their book to play for the class as part of their semester’s final practice grade. Performance order is randomly determined by computer. It’s a great opportunity to get students accustomed to performing independently in front of an understanding and supportive audience.

Thank you again for your support of music and recognizing, like university admissions officers, its importance in a well-rounded student’s education.

Winter Quarter - Upcoming Events

Students are getting into the swing of turning in their practice charts every Friday. Students who can’t play for whatever reason (instrument in repair, cold, etc.), should name and name & finger their parts to build hand to eye coordination and muscle memory. No one is exempt from completing a practice chart each week.

Our Fall Concert is Thursday, November 21st at 7PM in the large theater (PAT). The groups performing are the string orchestra, concert, symphonic and marching bands. The beginning students MUST attend to view the concert in preparation for their first concert in January. Please note the Theater Etiquette on the reverse side adopted by the RHS Arts Dept. and approved by administration. Everyone is welcome. Students receive extra credit for each adult that attends on their behalf! Sign in at the lobby table before the concert.

It is a required concert, as stated in the syllabus/handbook, including staying for the entire concert, about 90 minutes. Required concerts comprise 30% of a student’s semester grade. There will be at least two of these concerts during the fall semester. Plus, every student completes a written evaluation of every group, which is a national standard for music and one reason my classes are designated college prep. Students will sign in at their class roster and pick up their evaluation form between 6:30 and 6:45PM. Beginning students then report to the large theater.

Performing students wear their black RHS Music t-shirt and dark from waist down; concert attire is issued next semester. All performing students ordered a t-shirt if they didn’t have one from last year, as per the syllabus. These students pay the $10.00 to the bookkeeper, and then bring Mrs. Wilmer the receipt and sign for their shirt. These shirts are used throughout the year for less formal events.

Students in concert groups now need to incorporate their home “etude” book into their practicing. The “etude” book is geared to an instrument’s specific needs and issues. The cost is under $10.00. The band students should get their instrument’s book in the Rubank series: Concert Band – Intermediate, and Symphonic Band – Advanced vol. 1. Percussion should get “The Reading Drummer,” and strings should get their instrument’s book in the Wohlfardt series.

The RHS Boosters are sponsoring an electronic waste collection (e-waste) as a fundraiser on Saturday, January 11th from 8AM to 1PM in the RHS front parking lot. Please support us by donating old electronics and get them out of your way at the same time! Items with a screen, like televisions, laptops, and computer monitors are the things that earn us money, but all electronics are accepted. We cannot take appliances. The list of approved items will be on our website shortly: www.rhsmusic.net ….

Early January Music Notes - a new year and upcoming events ….

Our Winter Concert is Wednesday, January 16th at 7PM in the large Theater. The groups performing are the string orchestra, concert, symphonic, and marching bands. Call time is 6:30PM. We anticipate the concert lasting about 90 minutes. Students wear their black RHS Music t-shirt and dark bottoms; concert attire is issued next semester. Please note the Theater Etiquette on the reverse side adopted by the RHS Arts Dept. and approved by administration. Everyone is welcome. Students receive extra concert credit for each adult that attends on their behalf! Sign in at the lobby table before the concert.

It is a required concert, as stated in the syllabus/handbook, including staying for the entire concert. Since the concert is a culmination of the semester’s work, it comprises 30% of each student’s final semester grade. Plus, each student completes a written evaluation of every group, which is a national standard for music and one reason my classes are designated college prep.

In addition to the concert, students will perform in-class an etude or exercise out of their home etude book beginning January 17th as part of their semester final. Students may not use any music given by me. Students should have purchased their etude book as per the syllabus; the cost is under $10.00.

Students are asking about their next Disneyland trip payment. Thank you to those who made or raised money for their first payment. Additional fundraisers are scheduled in March and April. Currently, we have enough students to almost fill 2 buses, so I anticipate the total cost to be slightly higher than the estimate, between $395.00 and $400.00 for the 4-day, 3-night event. This amount will be confirmed in early February after the 2nd payment is in.

To reserve a space on the trip (on the bus and in the hotel), the student’s balance due must be no higher than $290.00 by the end of January. A copy of your child’s account is stapled to the copy of this sent home with your student with the current amount due highlighted in yellow. Otherwise, your student would be placed on a waiting list, which does not guarantee participation.

The RHS boosters or student music club will be sponsoring an electronic waste collection (e-waste) as a fundraiser. It will be on Saturday, January 12th from 8 am to 1 pm in the RHS front parking lot. Please support us by donating old electronics and get them out of your way at the same time! Items with a screen, like televisions, laptops, and computer monitors, are the things that earn money, but all electronics are accepted. We cannot take appliances. The list of approved items is on our website: www.rhsmusic.net

E-Waste Fundraiser

Please get the word out to neighbors and work offices that the E-Waste Fundraiser for the Music Boosters is Saturday, January 12th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the front parking lot at RHS, located at 9594 Kiefer Blvd.
Click here to see a list of acceptable E-Waste Items:
http://www.rhsmusic.net/E-Waste_Acceptable_Items.pdf

Friday's Call Time - Orchestra Performs!

Friday's call time for the last home game is 6 p.m. ... remember to wear jeans and dress warmly!

Don't miss the photos of the orchestra as they again played for the Sacramento City Unified School District's Fall Graduation ceremonies. Of special note, both the California Superintendent of Public Instruction and the District's Superintendent were present to celebrate the academic accomplishment of the students honored by this solemn occasion!

Schedule Update for 10/25 thru 10/29

Tuesday is an optional music rehearsal for Marching Band from 3 to 4:15. That means the band room must be cleared quickly because Mrs. Wilmer must leave with the Orchestra for a performance.

Orchestra will be leaving by bus at 4:30 on Tuesday for the School District's fall graduation ceremony. We should be back by 7:30. Remember to bring homework or a book!

On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday we will be down on the field until 5:30, so allow time after that to put everything away before leaving. Friday the call time is 6:00 for the game! It's Senior Night, so be sure to come out and have some fun!

A scheduled item this week: Please turn in your Disney form by Friday so we can keep our trip planning on track!

Concert: A Great Success!

Sunday's concert with the Camellia Symphony was a great success! We'd like to thank everyone who participated: the sponsors, the musicians (both students and pros), the guest composers, our honored friends in uniform, the parents, and all of the people who simply came to enjoy the really wonderful music. And for those who weren't able to attend, there's good news! A recording of the performance will soon be available. Watch this space for news on how to order!

Robin Wilmer directed the first piece after the intermission. She loved it!